|
|
The Railway Museum at
Mysore, the first
regional Rail Museum in India is located on K.R.S road in the heart of the
city opposite to the Central Food Technology Research and Training
Institute. Set up in 1979, the Museum boasts of valuable collection of
antiquities and sets a good pattern for regional display.
A circular gallery called Chamundi Gallery has interesting collections of
photographs, series of paintings showing the development of the Railways
and signaling signs right from its inception.
The adjacent building named Sri Ranga Pavilion houses two Royal coaches
that formed part of the Royal train of Maharaja of Mysore reflecting the
era of bygone splendour.
This pavilion incorporates in its construction beautifully carved wooden
pillars, doors and balustrades from the old Srirangapatna Railway Station.
It is said that these carved wooden works came from the wooden royal
palace of Mysore,
destroyed in a fire accident. The saloon used by the Maharajas is now at
the National Railway Museum at Delhi.
Mysore Rail Museum has the Maharanis' saloon, kitchen and dining care
unit. The eight wheeler Maharanis' saloon was built at Mysore Railway
workshop in 1899 AD adjustable to both the broad gauge and meter gauge.
One of the sections displays various small items relating to the then
Mysore State Railway including the telephone by the late Maharaja of
Mysore, Mysore Station Railways clock made in New York, model of the
longest bridge in Hassan-Mangalore Railway Projects and the working model
of the steam engine.
In outdoor exhibits are the various locomotives, coaches and rail motor
car. The star attraction of the museum is the battery operated mini train
especially for the children.